236, Lot: 103. Estimate $100.  
 
Thessaly, Thessalian League. Ca 170 BC. AE13mm, 2.13 g. 
Demetrias(?) mint. 

Macedonian shield with star in central boss
QESSALIWN, Kestrosphendone (dart sling). 

Warren, "Two Notes on Thessalian Coins", NC 1961, pl. I, 11; 
Rogers 4 var. (distribution of legend); SNG Cop -; SNG München -. 

VF, dark green patina. Rare. 

While Rogers thought that the object on the reverse of this 
coin was a lyre, Jennifer Warren has argued that it 
represents a powerful new weapon - the dart sling, or 
Kestrosfendone, first introduced during the Third Macedonian 
War between Rome and Perseus of Macedon. The weapon is 
described by the Achaean Polybius (xxvii, 9), who was taken 
to Rome as a prisoner following the war: "The form of the 
dart was as follows. It was two palms long, the tube being of 
the same length as the point. Into the former was fitted a 
wooden shaft a span in length a finger’s breadth in 
thickness. Into the middle of this were wedged three quite 
short wooden wings. The two thongs of the sling were unequal 
in length, and the missile was so fitted into the center of 
the sling that it was easily freed. While the thongs were 
whirled round and taut, it remained fixed there, but when at 
the moment of the discharge one of the thongs was released, 
it left the loop and was shot like a leaden bullet from the 
sling." Livy (xlii, 65, 9-10) adds that: "They (the Roman 
army) suffered particularly from the dart-slings."

Closing Date And Time: Jul 07, 2010 Currently: $84.

Used with permission of CNG coins, www.cngcoins.com, Jul, 2010